Bulldogs put finishing touches on G-Day preparations

ATHENS, Ga. — Mostly sunny skies greeted the Georgia football team during its final practice before the annual G-Day game, which is set to take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. inside Sanford Stadium.

Thursday’s workout at the Woodruff Practice Fields was the culmination of a five-week spring practice period that started on March 21 and will finish with Saturday’s festivities. Gates open at 11 a.m., with the letterman’s flag football game scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

The 14 practices so far this spring have given head coach Kirby Smart an opportunity to see how his players look going into his second season as head coach. This coming Saturday, he is just hoping for a close game.

“We are excited about G-Day,” Smart said. “We have the teams divided up and the kids are motivated and excited. It should be a great game. I want it to be tight. I am hoping we can get these two quarterbacks into two-minute situations.”

One question before kickoff on Saturday will be how Smart plans on dividing his quarterback unit during the game. According to Smart, it will have a strong resemblance to last year’s G-Day contest.

“It will be very similar to last year as far as where they will go,” Smart added. “They will both go with their respective units and then Sam (Vaughn) may go both ways. A little bit of it is going to depend on the score when we get Sam in the game. He may go one series with each, he may go two series with one or the other depending on the score of the game.”

UGA will use G-Day to implement the SEC’s Clear Bag Policy, which will go into effect at all SEC venues beginning this fall. The policy will also be in effect, beginning in the 2017-18 competition year, at all of UGA’s ticketed sports venues: Sanford Stadium, Stegeman Coliseum (men and women’s basketball, gymnastics) and Foley Field (baseball). More information on the SEC Clear Bag Policy can be found at: http://georgiadogs.com/clear-bag-policy.

Saturday’s contest will be televised nationally on the SEC Network, with Dave Neal and UGA alumni Matt Stinchcomb (in the booth) and Maria Taylor (sideline) calling the action. G-Day will also be carried on much of the Georgia Bulldogs Sports Network from IMG. Scott Howard and Eric Zeier will call the action, with Chuck Dowdle providing commentary from the sideline.